6 Books for Your Inner #GirlBoss

As I mentioned in an earlier post this year, my big resolution for 2017 is to read more – specifically, I’m trying to read 50 books in a year. So far, it’s been going pretty well (and if you want a more comprehensive idea of what I’ve been reading lately, check out my Goodreads page). As a result of this, I’ve read quite a few books about “being your best self” and conquering the world and all that good stuff. Today, I’m talking about those books and giving you a little sneak peek into what they’re all about – I definitely recommend picking up at least one or two of them sometime soon, because they’re all full of some wonderful insight from some pretty cool people.

 

#GirlBoss by Sophia Amoruso (buy it here!)

I couldn’t very well write about books for your inner #girlboss without including the book with the word right there in its title, now could I? This book is approximately one half autobiography/memoir, one half life advice. It’s really interesting too because Sophia’s rise to fame/fashion industry notoriety was a completely unconventional one, and she’s definitely a bit of a rule-breaker. While I don’t plan on taking on that wild of a lifestyle, it’s so fun to hear about someone who did. Plus, if you’ve been watching the series on Netflix, the book goes hand-in-hand with that.

 

Girl Code by Cara Alwill Leyba (buy it here!)

The author of this book also runs an incredibly successful blog and coaching business, so she’s obviously the type of person you want to take advice from. One of her big advocating points is about eliminating girl-on-girl competition and jealousy that seems to be running rampant. When girls are genuinely supportive of each other (because honestly, putting someone down doesn’t lift you up, and we all know that), awesome things happen to everyone. It’s also a relatively short read if you don’t want to commit to anything too long.

 

I Am That Girl by Alexis Jones (buy it here!)

I adored this book. Instead of just being about how to be successful in business and take over the world (which is obviously good too), this book is all about girl empowerment and really having confidence in yourself and your dreams. That is, after all, the first key step leading up to any of those other previously mentioned huge ambitions. Looking at those past two sentences, it sounds incredibly cheesy written out like that, but Alexis Jones is one of the most authentic writers I’ve ever encountered. The book is actually only a small part of a giant social movement, and I really can’t recommend it enough. It’s feminist without being hardcore feminist literature, which is the perfect combination of female empowerment and light, fun reading.

 

It’s Not How Good You Are, It’s How Good You Want to Be by Paul Arden (buy it here!)

This book is about 50% ideas, 50% cool typography. It’s a real artsy book and an incredibly quick read, but it really hones in on the idea that 90% of who you become is based on the work you put in. Talent is great, but as the old saying goes, “hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard.” I’ll also admit, this book is pretty Instagrammable too, if that’s a selling point for you (it is for me, I’ll admit it).

 

Leave Your Mark by Aliza Licht (buy it here!)

If you’re looking to go into PR or into the fashion industry, this book was practically made for you. And even if you’re not, there’s still a ton of insight about the job market that is pretty universally applicable. Aliza Licht is the fashion PR girl, and has a ton of advice about the industry and how to market yourself effectively to get the job you want and how to climb up the corporate ladder once you land that job.

 

You Are a Badass by Jen Sincero (buy it here!) 

This book title may be the sole instance of profanity on this blog. Jen Sincero uses this kind of casual language to create a self-help book that’s a bit more down-to-earth than a lot of them can be, and emphasizes this idea that you can achieve anything you set your mind to and that you’re your only limiting factor. While this isn’t necessarily universally applicable (sometimes things just don’t work out, and you have to be flexible like that), the book itself is still empowering to read and makes you feel like, well, a badass.

 

If you’re looking for the next book on your list, I hope you go for one of these! If you’re read any of them and have any additional thoughts, let me know in the comments – I’d love to know your thoughts.

xo, Taylor